Milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, perinatal disease preventive or therapeutic agent, and reproductivity improving agent for ruminant

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to improve the milk yield and/or milk quality of a ruminant for milk production, to prevent or treat a perinatal disease of a ruminant, and to improve the reproductivity of a ruminant. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the following is provided. An agent for improving at least one of milk yield and milk quality of a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol. An agent for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol. An agent for improving reproductivity of a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an agent and a feed for improving milkyield and/or milk quality of a ruminant for milk production, and amethod of improving milk yield and/or milk quality using the agent andfeed. The present invention also relates to an agent and a feed forpreventing or treating a perinatal disease of a ruminant, and a methodof preventing or treating a perinatal disease of a ruminant using theagent and feed. Further, the present invention relates to an agent and afeed for improving a reproductivity for a ruminant, and a method ofimproving a reproductivity for a ruminant.

BACKGROUND ART

In the case where the ruminant is used as livestock, important factorsfor improving its productivity are improvement of yield and quality ofthe animal product, improvement of reproductivity, and disease control.In order to address them, an antibiotic, a probiotic, anoligosaccharide, a plant extract, and the like are used. For example, anionophore such as monensin, which is an antibiotic, has an effect ofimproving feed efficiency in meat production (Non Patent Document 1) andan effect of increasing milk yield in milk production (Non PatentDocument 2).

However, in recent years, owing to a problem of emergence ofantibiotic-resistant bacteria, addition of an antibiotic to a feed hasbeen regulated strictly, and in Europe, the use of the antibiotic forgrowth promotion had been banned by January 2006. Further, there is astrong consumer's demand for safe livestock products, which are producedwithout using an antibiotic, and hence, a need for an alternative to theantibiotic is growing.

Therefore, uses of a plant extract and so on have been studied astechnologies for the alternative to the antibiotic (Non Patent Document3). However, many of the technologies have problems in that the effectsare unstable and registration as feeds are not accepted, and have notyet been put to practical use.

It is known that cashew nut shell liquid has an antibacterial action(Non Patent Document 4) and a coccidiosis-relieving action (PatentDocument 1). As for an effect of the cashew nut shell liquid on aruminant, there is a report suggesting a methane-reducing effect in anin vitro test using anacardic acid, which is one of the components ofthe cashew nut shell liquid (Non Patent Document 5). Further, preventionof acidosis has been reported using ruminants (Patent Document 2).However, up to now, there have been no findings on improvement of milkproductivity such as milk yield and milk quality of ruminants by thecashew nut shell liquid.

Further, a perinatal disease of cows accounts for more than half ofreasons of death or disposal of milk cows and cause huge economic andmental damage on farmers. The perinatal disease is a collective term fordiseases which tend to occur in a perinatal period before and aftercalving, such as hypocalcemia (milk fever), fatty liver, ketosis, andabomasal displacement. Of those, abomasal displacement is a diseasewhich is characterized by displacement of the abomasum from a normalposition to a left or right direction, and causes a symptom such ashypophagia. In many cases, right abomasal displacement is associatedwith intestinal volvulus and causes a severe symptom. In particular,this disease frequently occurs in milk cows after calving. This diseasecan be mainly treated only by a surgical operation and imposes a greatburden on farmers because of hypodynamia of cows and an increase inmedical cost.

Conventionally, abomasal displacement has been prevented or treated bythe surgical operation as well as medical treatments with a probiotic(Patent Document 3), an agent containing catechins (Patent Document 4),prifinium bromide (Patent Document 5), and metoclopramide (PatentDocument 5). However, these methods have stress problems to cows byintravenous or intramuscular injection, a long period for treatment (1week or more), and a low curing rate. Further, clear preventive effectshave not been shown. Hitherto, there have been no findings on preventionand treatment of perinatal diseases of ruminants by the cashew nut shellliquid.

Further, for both of beef cattle and milk cows, improvement ofreproductivity is recognized as a very important problem directly linkedto productivity and profitability. A period from insemination tononlactating and calving without severe diseases is important infarmer's benefits. In the case of the milk cows, reduction of the numberof artificial inseminations, reduction of a feeding cost, and anincrease in lifetime milk yield can be achieved by the satisfactorymanagement of the perinatal period. In the case of the beef cattle,improvement of the number of calf and reduction of a management cost canbe achieved by the smooth management of the perinatal period. They makea huge contribution to improvement of income in a farmer.

Conventionally, reproductivity has been improved not only by completenutritional management such as securing of dry matter intake or supplyof energy or proteins but also by feeding additives including vitaminssuch as vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E, macrominerals such ascalcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, and sulfur,and microminerals such as copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, and selenium(Non Patent Document 6). Further, there is a report that addition of anunsaturated fatty acid (such as linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, ordocosahexaenoic acid) can improve reproductivity (Non Patent Document7).

However, these reports have various problems in that planned nutrientscannot be fed by hypophagia and so on, before and after calving. And theeffects in these reports are unclear because individual differences ofthe reproductivity are large. Therefore the problems have not beensolved sufficiently. Further, there are problems at a cow group level,such as increases in the number of anestrous cows, decrease of an estrusdetection rate, and decrease of a conception rate, and thus the overallanimal husbandry conducts repeated trials and errors (Non PatentDocument 8). Further, hitherto, there have been no findings on theimprovement of the reproductivity of a ruminant by the cashew nut shellliquid.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: JP 08-231410A-   Patent Document 2: International Patent WO2010/053085A-   Patent Document 3: JP 07-109224A-   Patent Document 4: JP 10-226643A-   Patent Document 5: JP 01-190630A

Non Patent Documents

-   Non Patent Document 1: R. D. Goodrich, et al., Journal of Animal    Science, 58, 1484-1498 (1984)-   Non Patent Document 2: S. BecKett, et al., Journal of Dairy Science,    81(6), 1563-1573 (1998)-   Non Patent Document 3: Benchaar, et al., Can. Journal of Animal    Science, 86, 91-96 (2006)-   Non Patent Document 4: H. Muroi, et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal    Chemistry, 12, 583-587 (2004)-   Non Patent Document 5: C. J. Van Nevel., et al., Applied    Microbiology, 21, 365-366 (1971)-   Non Patent Document 6: D. M. Amaral-Phillips et al., University of    Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, ASC-138 (1997)-   Non Patent Document 7: R. Mattos et al., Reviews of Reproduction, 5,    38-45 (2000)-   Non Patent Document 8: O. Dochi, Livestock Technology, June, 2009,    649, 7-12 (2009)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to improve the milk yield and/ormilk quality of a ruminant for milk production. Another object of thepresent invention is to prevent or treat a perinatal disease of aruminant. Still another object of the present invention is to improvethe reproductivity of a ruminant.

The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studiesto solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, the inventorshave found that the administration of cashew nut shell liquid(hereinafter, sometimes abbreviated as CNSL) to a ruminant for milkproduction can improve the milk yield and milk quality. The inventors ofthe present invention have also found that the administration of cashewnut shell liquid to a ruminant can prevent or treat a perinatal diseaseand improve the reproductivity.

Thus, the inventors of the present invention have completed the presentinvention.

That is, the summary of the present invention is as follows.

(1) An agent for improving at least one of milk yield and milk qualityof a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, whichmay be a cashew nut shell itself, the same shall apply hereinafter,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, which may be a heat-treated cashewnut shell itself, the same shall apply hereinafter, anacardic acid,cardanol, and cardol.

(2) The agent for improving at least one of milk yield and milk qualityaccording to (1), which is administered to a ruminant fed with a feedhaving a ratio by weight of a forage to a total weight of the forage anda concentrate feed of 0.3 to 1.0.

(3) A feed for improving at least one of milk yield and milk quality ofa ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, andcardol.

(4) The feed according to (3), which has a ratio by weight of a forageto a total weight of the forage and a concentrate feed of 0.3 to 1.0.

(5) A method of improving at least one of milk yield and milk quality ofa ruminant, comprising administering at least one of cashew nut shellliquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol,and cardol to the ruminant.

(6) The method according to (5), wherein the ruminant is raised with afeed having a ratio by weight of a forage to a total weight of theforage and a concentrate feed of 0.3 to 1.0.

(7) The method according to (5) or (6), wherein at least one of cashewnut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and cardol is administered in an amount of 0.01 to 500 g perhead per day.

(8) A use of at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol forproduction of an agent for improving at least one of milk yield and milkquality of a ruminant.

(9) A use of at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol forproduction of a feed for improving at least one of milk yield and milkquality of a ruminant.

(10) An agent for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of aruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, andcardol.

(11) A feed for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of aruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, andcardol.

(12) A method of preventing or treating a perinatal disease of aruminant, comprising administering at least one of cashew nut shellliquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol,and cardol to the ruminant.

(13) A use of at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol forproduction of an agent for preventing or treating a perinatal disease ofa ruminant.

(14) A use of at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol forproduction of a feed for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of aruminant.

(15) An agent for improving reproductivity of a ruminant, comprising atleast one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.

(16) A feed for improving reproductivity of a ruminant, comprising atleast one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.

(17) A method of improving reproductivity of a ruminant, comprisingfeeding at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nutshell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol to the ruminant.

(18) The method according to (17), wherein at least one of cashew nutshell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and cardol is fed in an amount of 0.01 to 500 g per head perday.

(19) A use of at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol forproduction of an agent for improving reproductivity of a ruminant.

(20) A use of at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol forproduction of a feed for improving reproductivity of a ruminant.

The administration of the agent or feed containing cashew nut shellliquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol,and/or cardol of the present invention to a ruminant for milk productioncan improve the milk yield and/or milk quality (e.g., milk proteincontent, solids-not-fat content, and milk fat content). Further, thefeeding of the agent or feed in the course of an increase in the milkyield after calving can improve the rate of an increase in the milkyield.

Although milk may not receive a high evaluation when the solids-not-fatcontent and milk fat content are lower than standard values, the agentfor improving milk quality of the present invention can prevent adecrease in a milk price (purchase price from a farmer).

The agent for improving milk quality of the present invention canprovide milk with higher milk component levels such as a milk proteincontent, a solids-not-fat content, and a milk fat content than standardvalues. Therefore, in the case where a milk price depends on anevaluation of milk quality, the milk price may be raised to give largerprofits to a farmer.

The administration of the agent or feed containing cashew nut shellliquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol,and/or cardol of the present invention to a ruminant can prevent ortreat a perinatal disease such as abomasal displacement. Thus, death ordisposal of a ruminant before or after calving can be prevented.

The feeding of the agent or feed containing cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol of the present invention to a ruminant can lead to theimprovement of the reproductivity such as a reduction in the number ofinsemination and a decrease in days of non-pregnant. Thus, the feedingcan efficiently provide offspring and can increase the amount of milkproduced in its life, resulting in significantly improving theproductivity.

As mentioned above, the administration of the agent or feed containingcashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardicacid, cardanol, and/or cardol of the present invention to a ruminant formilk production can prevent or treat a perinatal disease after calvingand can increase the milk yield. Therefore, the agent or feed is veryuseful for raising a ruminant such as a milk cow. It should be notedthat although the incidence of the perinatal disease decreases over timeafter calving, the agent or feed can increase the milk yield and improvethe milk quality even after that time. Further, the improvement of thereproductivity can efficiently provide offspring, reduce a cost forartificial insemination, and reduce a cost for a feeding system, andhence the agent or feed enables long-term rebreeding or improvement ofthe productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing relationships between days after calving and arate of increase in milk yield in CNSL-fed group and control group.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing incidences of abomasal displacement inCNSL-fed group and control group.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a therapeutic effect of CNSL on abomasaldisplacement.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in 3.5 FCM caused by feeding of CNSLand heat stress indices determined in the same period in ranches O andM.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in 3.5 FCM caused by feeding of CNSLand heat stress indices determined in the same period in ranch K.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a therapeutic effect of CNSL on abomasaldisplacement.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An agent for improving milk yield and/or milk quality of a ruminant ofthe present invention contains cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL),heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol. It should be noted that, in the present invention, the milkyield refers to an amount of milk obtained by a single milking, and theimprovement of milk yield includes amelioration and increase of the milkyield. In the present invention, the milk quality includes indices suchas a milk protein content, a solids-not-fat content, and a milk fatcontent, and the milk protein content, solids-not-fat content, and milkfat content are preferably higher. In the present invention, theimprovement of milk quality includes the amelioration and increase ofthe milk quality and particularly refers to the amelioration andincrease of the milk protein content, solids-not-fat content, and milkfat content.

An agent for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of a ruminant ofthe present invention contains cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL),heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol. It should be noted that, in the present invention, the perinataldisease refers to a disease which develops in a ruminant after calving.Specific examples thereof include hypocalcemia (milk fever), fattyliver, ketosis, and abomasal displacement.

An agent for improving a reproductivity of the present inventioncontains cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol. It should be notedthat, in the present invention, the improvement of a reproductivityrefers to efficiently producing offspring due to the decrease of anumber of insemination, the decrease of days of non-pregnant, theimprovement of a pregnancy rate, and the reduction of actual days ofnon-pregnant.

The cashew nut shell liquid is an oily liquid contained in the shell ofthe seed of a cashew nut tree (Anacardium occidentale L.). The cashewnut shell liquid contains, as components thereof, anacardic acid,cardanol, and cardol. In general, anacardic acid is converted intocardanol by a heat-treatment. Thus, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquidcontaining cardanol and cardol only may be used.

Non-heated cashew nut shell liquid extracted by compressing the shell ofa cashew nut contains 55 to 80 mass % anacardic acid, 5 to 20 mass %cardanol, and 5 to 30 mass % cardol as described in J. Agric. Food Chem.2001, 49, 2548-2551.

Heated cashew nut shell liquid obtained by heat-treating non-heatedcashew nut shell liquid at 130° C. or higher contains 0 to 10 mass %anacardic acid, 55 to 80 mass % cardanol, and 5 to 30 mass % cardol,because anacardic acid which is a major component of non-heated cashewnut shell liquid is converted into cardanol by decarboxylation.

The cashew nut shell liquid used in the present invention can beobtained as a vegetable oil extracted by compressing the shell of acashew nut. Further, the cashew nut shell liquid used in the presentinvention can also be obtained by heating or extracting, e.g., drydistillation or solvent-extraction of cashew nut shells. In addition,the cashew nut shell liquid used in the present invention can beobtained according to a method described in JP 08-231410 A.

The cashew nut shell liquid used in the present invention may also be aheat sterilized oil or a liquid obtained by pulverizing/crushing theshell of a cashew nut. Further, the shell itself may be used.

For the cashew nut shell liquid used in the present invention, acommercially-available product may also be used.

The heated cashew nut shell liquid of the present invention can beobtained by heating cashew nut shell liquid obtained as above to 70° C.or higher, preferably 130° C. or higher. Note that when heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid is used, the mass ratio of anacardic acid tocardanol in the heated cashew nut shell liquid is preferably 0:100 to20:80.

The milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention can contain anacardic acid,cardanol, and/or cardol instead of a cashew nut shell liquid.

As anacardic acid used in the present invention, there are exemplifiednatural anacardic acid, synthetic anacardic acid, and the derivativesthereof. Further, commercially-available anacardic acid may be used. Asdescribed in JP 08-231410 A, anacardic acid may be obtained, forexample, by eluting the cashew nut shell liquid, which has been obtainedby subjecting the cashew nut shell to extraction treatment with anorganic solvent, through chromatography on a silica gel column using asolvent of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and acetic acid mixed at variedratios (JP 03-240721 A, JP 03-240716 A, and the like).

Examples of the cardanol used in the present invention include naturalcardanol, synthetic cardanol, and derivatives thereof. The cardanol usedin the present invention can be obtained by decarboxylation of anacardicacid which is a major component of cashew nut shell liquid.

Examples of the cardol used in the present invention include naturalcardol, synthetic cardol, and derivatives thereof. The cardol used inthe present invention can be purified from cashew nut shell liquid.

The content of the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nutshell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol in the milk yieldand/or milk quality improving agent, the perinatal disease preventive ortherapeutic agent, and the reproductivity improving agent of the presentinvention is, on the basis of the total amount, preferably 0.1 to 100mass %, more preferably 0.5 to 95 mass %, and particularly preferably 1to 90 mass %. When the content is 0.1 mass % or more, it can be expectedthat milk yield and/or milk quality are improved, a perinatal disease isprevented or treated, and reproductivity is improved. The tendency isremarkable when the content is 0.5 mass % or more and particularlypreferably 1 mass % or more, which is preferred. On the other hand,although milk yield and/or milk quality are improved, a perinataldisease is prevented or treated, and reproductivity is improved evenwhen the content is 100 mass %, the content is preferably 95 mass % orless and particularly preferably 90 mass % or less.

In the present invention, a stock solution of the cashew nut shellliquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and/or cardol may be directly orally administered.

In the case where the stock solution of the cashew nut shell liquid, theheat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol of the present invention is directly administered, the dose ofthe cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid,anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol is preferably 0.01 to 500 g perruminant per day, more preferably 0.1 to 200 g per ruminant per day, andmost preferably 1 to 100 g per ruminant per day. When the content is0.01 g per ruminant per day or more, it can be expected that milk yieldand/or milk quality are improved, a perinatal disease is prevented ortreated, and reproductivity is improved. The tendency is remarkable whenthe content is 0.1 g or more and particularly preferably 1 g or more,which is preferred. On the other hand, although milk yield and/or milkquality are improved, a perinatal disease is prevented or treated, andreproductivity is improved even when the content is 1000 g or less, thecontent is preferably 200 g or less and particularly preferably 100 g orless.

The milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention may contain, in addition to acashew nut shell liquid, a heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid,anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol, any carrier as long as thecarrier can be used for a feed, a drug, or a food product, such aslactose, saccharose, D-mannitol, α starch, starch, corn starch,crystalline cellulose, bentonite, silica gel, and light anhydroussilicic acid.

The milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention may further contain, inaddition to a cashew nut shell liquid, a heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol, an arbitrarycomponent(s) such as a component which is effective for the growthpromotion of the ruminant, a nutritional supplement component, acomponent for enhancing the preservation stability, or a coatingcomponent. Examples of the arbitrary components include raw materialsfor a feed and a feed additive such as wheat bran, alfalfa, and timothyhay, raw materials for a food and a food additive, raw materials for amedicine, and other supplement components used for animal supplements(hereinafter referred to as supplement). For example, the followings areincluded: probiotics such as Enterococcus spp., Bacillus spp., andBifidobacterium spp.; enzymes such as amylase and lipase; vitamins suchas L-ascorbic acid, choline chloride, inositol, and folate; mineralssuch as potassium chloride, iron citrate, magnesium oxide, andphosphates; amino acids such as DL-alanine, DL-methionine, L-lysine;organic acids such as fumaric acid, butyric acid, lactic acid, aceticacid, and their salts; antioxidants such as ethoxyquin,dibutylhydroxytoluene, butylhydroxyanisol, ferulic acid, vitamin C, andvitamin E; fungicides such as calcium propionate; binders such ascarboxylmethyl cellurose (CMC), casein sodium, and sodium polyacrylate;emulsifiers such as lecithin, glycerin fatty acid ester and sorbitanfatty acid ester; pigments such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin; andflavoring agents such as various esters, ethers, and ketones. Types ofthe supplement and components other than a cashew nut shell liquid, aheat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol are not particularly limited.

The milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention may contain magnesium oxide,stearate, talc, zeolite, diatom earth, and silica as an oil absorbent.The oil absorbent is preferably particulate. The oil adsorbent of thepresent invention preferably adsorbs an oil in an amount of 50 to 300 gper 100 g of the adsorbent. In addition, the particle size of theadsorbent is preferably 2 to 300 μm because the particles become coarseto cause separation when the particle size exceeds 300 μm.

In the milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention, the mass ratio of the oilabsorbent and a cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a heat-treated cashewnut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol is preferably100:20 to 100:180. Further, the mass ratio of the oil absorbent and thepulverized products of a cashew nut shell is preferably 15:100 to60:100.

The dosage form of the milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent,the perinatal disease preventive or therapeutic agent, and thereproductivity improving agent of the present invention is notparticularly limited, and the agent may be in an arbitrary form such asa liquid formulation, a powder formulation, a solid, a tablet, acapsule, an emulsion, a pellet, a tablet, and a coated formulation, andpreferred are a liquid formulation, a powder formulation, a capsule, apellet, and a tablet.

As the liquid formulation, the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol may beused as it is, the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nutshell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol may be dissolvedin a solvent such as ethanol, or the cashew nut shell liquid, theheat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol may be used after the carrier or an arbitrary component is added.Further, the following powder, capsule, pellet, and tablet formulationmay be suspended and/or floated into a liquid.

The powder formulation may be obtained by adding the carrier to thecashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid,anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol and forming the mixture intopowder.

The capsule may be obtained by filling the cashew nut shell liquid, theheat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol into a capsule as it is, or by adding the carrier or an arbitrarycomponent thereto.

The pellet may be obtained by adding the carrier to the cashew nut shellliquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and/or cardol, and granulating and pelletizing the mixture.

The tablet formulation may be obtained by adding the carrier to thecashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid,anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol, granulating the mixture, andtableting the resultant.

Note that in the case when an oil absorbent such as silica is used, apowder, tablet, or pellet formulation is preferred.

As described above, the milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent,the perinatal disease preventive or therapeutic agent, and thereproductivity improving agent of the present invention can be producedby mixing the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol with, if necessary, acarrier or an arbitrary component and formulating the mixture. Notethat, depending on the form of the formulation, the above-mentionedpulverized/crushed product of the cashew nut shell or the cashew nutshell as it is without being subjected to any treatment is mixed withanother arbitrary component (s), and the mixture can be used as the milkyield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinatal diseasepreventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivity improving agentof the present invention. In addition, without being mixed with anotherarbitrary component(s), the pulverized/crushed product as it is or thecashew nut shell as it is may be used as the milk yield and/or milkquality improving agent, the perinatal disease preventive or therapeuticagent, and the reproductivity improving agent of the present invention,and the milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention as it is may also be used as afeed. Further, the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nutshell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol are dissolved in asolvent such as ethanol and the resultant can be mixed and absorbed to afeed.

Thus, the milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, the perinataldisease preventive or therapeutic agent, and the reproductivityimproving agent of the present invention comprise an effective amount ofcashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardicacid, cardanol, and/or cardol.

The feed additive of the present invention comprises a cashew nut shellliquid, a heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and/or cardol.

The content of the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nutshell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol in the feedadditive of the present invention is, based on the dry matter mass of afeed to which the feed additive is added, on the basis of the totalamount, preferably 5 to 500,000 mass ppm, more preferably 50 to 300,000mass ppm, and particularly preferably 500 to 100,000 mass ppm. When thecontent is 5 mass ppm or more, it can be expected that milk yield and/ormilk quality are improved, a perinatal disease is prevented or treated,and reproductivity is improved. The tendency is remarkable when thecontent is 50 mass ppm or more and particularly preferably 500 mass ppmor more, which is preferred. On the other hand, although milk yieldand/or milk quality are improved, a perinatal disease is prevented ortreated, and reproductivity is improved even when the content is 500,000mass ppm, the content is preferably 300,000 mass ppm or less andparticularly preferably 100,000 mass ppm or less.

The kind of an animal to be fed with the feed additive of the presentinvention is a ruminant for milk production and for reproduction. Forexample, the feed additive of the present invention is suitable forraising ruminants such as cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and yaks. Aspreferred species of the cattle, there are given female Holstein,Jersey, Japanese black, Japanese Shorthorn, and Aberdeen Angus. Theamount of the feed ingested by an animal may be appropriately adjusteddepending on the kind, body weight, age, sex, and health condition ofthe animal, feed components, and the like.

In this case, an amount of the feed additive to be used is, as theamount of the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol, preferably 0.1 to 500 gper head per day, more preferably 1 to 200 g per head per day, stillmore preferably 10 to 100 g per head per day. Further, the body weightof cattle to be fed with the feed usually ranges from 500 to 900 kg, andhence the amount of cashew nut shell liquid etc. contained in a feed fedper day per kg of the body weight of the cow is 0.00011 g to 1 g,preferably 0.0011 g to 0.4 g, more preferably 0.001 g to 0.2 g.

The feed of the present invention comprises a cashew nut shell liquid, aheat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol.

The content of the cashew nut shell liquid, the heat-treated cashew nutshell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol in the feed of thepresent invention is, based on the dry matter mass of the feed, on thebasis of the total amount, preferably 0.5 to 500,000 mass ppm, morepreferably 5 to 300,000 mass ppm, and particularly preferably 50 to100,000 mass ppm. When the content is 0.5 mass ppm or more, it can beexpected that milk yield and/or milk quality are improved, a perinataldisease is prevented or treated, and reproductivity is improved. Thetendency is remarkable when the content is 5 mass ppm or more andparticularly preferably 50 mass ppm or more, which is preferred. On theother hand, although milk yield and/or milk quality are improved, aperinatal disease is prevented or treated, and reproductivity isimproved even when the content is 500,000 mass ppm, the content ispreferably 300,000 mass ppm or less and particularly preferably 100,000mass ppm or less.

In the feed of the present invention, the kind and blending ratio of thefeed component to be blended with the agent of the present invention arenot particularly limited. The feed may be one conventionally given toanimals. For example, the feed may be prepared using corn kernel, cornpowder, milo, wheat bran, soybean meal, oat, wheat flour short, wheatcoarse flour, alfalfa, timothy, clover, defatted rice bran, white fishmeal, fish meal, yeast, molasses, meat pieces, born meal, calciumcarbonate, dibasic calcium phosphate, yellow grease, vitamins, orminerals.

The feed of the present invention can be produced by adding cashew nutshell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and/or cardol as it is, or the agent for improving milk yieldand/or milk quality, agent for preventing or treating a perinataldisease, or agent for improving reproductivity of the present invention,containing cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol to a feed component andmixing the resultant. At this time, when a powdery or solid agent isused, the agent may be formed into a liquid form or a gel form using aliquid carrier for the purpose of facilitating the mixing process. Inthis case, as the liquid carrier, there may be used a flowing liquidsuch as water, a vegetable oil, a liquid animal oil, a mineral oil, asynthetic oil, or a water-soluble polymer compound. Further, in order tokeep the homogeneity of the cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashewnut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/or cardol in the feed,the feed preferably contains alginic acid, sodium alginate, xanthan gum,carboxymethyl cellulose, a starch, sodium caseinate, gum arabic, guargum, or a water-soluble polysaccharide such as tamarind seedpolysaccharide.

The kind of an animal to be fed with the feed of the present inventionis a ruminant for milk production and for reproduction. For example, thefeed of the present invention is suitable for raising ruminants such ascattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and yaks. As preferred species of thecattle, there are given female Holstein, Jersey, Japanese black,Japanese Shorthorn, and Aberdeen Angus. The amount of the feed ingestedby an animal may be appropriately adjusted depending on the kind, bodyweight, age, sex, and health condition of the animal, feed components,and the like. In this case, the amount of cashew nut shell liquid etc.contained in the feed is preferably 0.01 to 500 g per head per day, morepreferably 0.1 to 200 g per head per day, still more preferably 1 to 100g per head per day. Further, the body weight of cattle to be fad withthe feed usually ranges from 500 to 900 kg, and hence the amount ofcashew nut shell liquid etc. contained in a feed fed per day per kg ofthe body weight of the cow is 0.000011 g to 1 g, preferably 0.00011 g to0.4 g, more preferably 0.0011 g to 0.2 g.

In the feed of the present invention, the forage/concentrate ratio(ratio by weight of a forage to a concentrate feed), i.e., the ratio byweight of the forage to the total weight of the forage and concentratefeed (forage/forage+concentrate feed) is preferably between 0.3 and 1.0,more preferably between 0.3 and 0.9, still more preferably between 0.3and 0.8.

It should be noted that the forage refers to fresh forage, silage, hay,straw, and so on out of feeds to be fed to livestock. The forage isessential for ruminant livestock to maintain the function of theruminant stomach and serves as a major energy or nutrient supply source.

In addition, the concentrate feed is a protein- and fattyingredient-rich feed and is produced mainly from a seed part of grainsuch as corn, barley, wheat, or rice, legumes such as soybeans, or oilcake obtained after oil pressing.

The feed for improving milk yield and/or milk quality of the presentinvention is preferably fed to a milk cow aged some months suitable formilk production (usually 20 to 144 months old, preferably 20 to 132months old, more preferably 20 to 108 months old). The agent forpreventing or treating a perinatal disease is preferably fed to aperiparturient cow (preferably 60 days before calving to 30 days aftercalving, more preferably 30 days before calving to 30 days aftercalving). The agent for improving reproductivity is preferably fed to acow aged some months suitable for reproduction (usually 14 to 144 monthsold, preferably 14 to 132 months old, more preferably 14 to 108 monthsold).

It should be noted that the administration of cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and/orcardol to a ruminant fed with a feed having a ratio by weight of aforage to the total weight of the forage and a concentrate feed of 0.3to 1.0 (preferably 0.3 to 0.8, more preferably 0.3 to 0.7) for 2 days ormore, preferably 3 days or more, more preferably 9 days or more canachieve an effect of improving the milk yield and/or milk quality, aneffect of preventing or treating the perinatal disease, and an effect ofimproving the reproductivity.

EXAMPLES Production Example 1

220 kg of cashew nut shells were obtained from Cashew Trading Co., Ltd.,and the shells were compressed, thereby producing 67 kg of cashew nutshell liquid. In addition, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid obtainedby conducting a heat treatment at 130° C. to convert anacardic acid intocardanol was obtained from Cashew Trading Co., Ltd. (cold-pressed oil(made in India)).

The compositions of the cashew nut shell liquids were measured by thefollowing method. That is, HPLC (Waters 600, Nihon Waters K.K.), adetector (Waters 490E, Nihon Waters K.K.), a printer (ChromatopakC-R6A,Shimadzu Corporation), and a column (SUPELCOSIL LC18, SUPELCO, Inc.)were used. A solvent of acetonitrile:water:acetic acid=80:20:1 (volumeratio) was used and a flow rate was 2 ml/min. Detection was performedbased on an absorbance at 280 nm.

The cashew nut shell liquid was found to contain 61.8 mass % ofanacardic acid, 8.2 mass % of cardanol, and 19.9 mass % of cardol. Theheat-treated cashew nut shell liquid was found to contain 0.0 mass % ofanacardic acid, 71.4 mass % of cardanol, and 14.4 mass % of cardol.

1,000 g of silicic anhydride (manufactured by Evonik Degussa Japan,Sipernat 22) was mixed with 1,000 g of cashew hut shell liquid toprepare cashew nut shell liquid-containing silica. 1,330 g of rice bran,1,165 g of wheat flour, 1,000 g of alfalfa meal, 500 g of amolasses-containing feed, and 5 g of a flavoring agent were mixed with1,000 g of cashew nut shell liquid-containing silica, and the mixturewas pelletized to prepare a cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet(agent for improving milk yield and/or milk quality) (oil contentrelative to the whole agent: 100).

Example 1 Evaluation of Effect of Improving Milk Yield and Milk Quality

This test was conducted in a ranch where the average number of milk cowswas 38 per day, and adult female Holstein cows (average: 57.5 monthsold, range: 25 months old to 90 months old) were used in the test. Afeed to be fed (forage/concentrate ratio in the feed=1:2) was designedso that 3 kg of alfalfa, 3 kg of timothy, 8 kg of a mixed feed for milkcow breeding (manufactured by Kyodo Shiryo Co., Ltd.), and 4 kg of amixed feed for milk cow breeding (manufactured by Snow Brand Seed Co.,Ltd.) were ingested per day.

Before the feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet, themilk yield and milk components (milk fat content, solids-not-fatcontent, milk protein content, and milk urea nitrogen) were measured.The milk yield was calculated by dividing the amount of the whole milkgathered at the test ranch by the number of milk cows, and the milkcomponent levels were analyzed for a sample obtained from the wholemilk. The feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet wasstarted in an amount of 100 g per day (10 g per day in terms of cashewnut shell liquid) per head, and the measurement of the milk yield andanalysis of the milk quality were conducted before the start of thefeeding and on Day 9 after the start of the feeding.

The milk fat content, solids-not-fat content, and milk protein contentwere measured in accordance with a measurement method described in:

“Ministerial Ordinance Concerning Compositional Standards, etc. for Milkand Milk Products”

(MHW Ordinance No. 52 dated Dec. 27, 1951)Final revision: MHLW Ordinance No. 132 dated Oct. 30, 2007) Appendix2. Compositional standards for milk etc., and standards of production,cooking, and preservation methods(7) Test method for compositional standards for milk etc.Table 1 shows the test results.

TABLE 1 Before feeding of Day 9 after feed- Increase CNSL-containing ingof CNSL- or decrease pellet containing pellet amount Milk yield (L/head)22.9 24.6 +1.7 Milk fat content (%) 3.70 3.80 +0.10 Solids-not-fat 8.858.96 +0.11 content (%) Milk protein 3.36 3.50 +0.14 content (%)Milkureanitrogen 13.4 11.2 −2.2 (mg/dL)

The feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet increasedthe milk yield by 1.7 L on Day 9, and the pellet was found to have aneffect of improving the milk yield. Further, the milk fat content,solids-not-fat content, and milk protein content increased by 0.10%,0.11%, and 0.14%, respectively, and the pellet was found to have aneffect of improving the milk quality. In addition, the milk ureanitrogen was found to decrease. This is probably because the milkprotein content increased through efficient conversion of nitrogen intoa milk protein.

Example 2 Evaluation of Effect of Improving Milk Yield

Adult female Holstein cattle were used in this test. The agent ofProduction Example 1 was fed in an amount of 100 g (10 g in terms ofCNSL) per day for 5 days from the date of calving. 11 cows (one calving:5 cows, two calvings: 1 cow, three calvings: 4 cows, five calvings: 1cow) were allocated to CNSL-fed group, while 12 cows (one calving: 5cows, three calvings: 4 cows, four calvings: 1 cow, five calvings: 2cows) were allocated to control group fed with no CNSL (CNSL-unfedgroup). Although the feed to be fed was modified depending on thecondition of the cows, the feed was designed so that 7 kg of timothy and2 to 3 kg of a concentrate feed were fed on average per day. The milkyields were measured for 5 days from the date of calving, and the ratesof increase were calculated. FIG. 1 and Tables 2 and 3 show the results.

TABLE 2 Changes of milk yield in control group (CNSL is not fed) Numberof Milk yield (kg/day) days after Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ-Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ-calving ual 1 ual 2 ual 3 ual 4 ual 5 ual 6 ual 7 ual 8 ual 9 ual 10 ual11 ual 12 1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2 1.1 1.1 1.20.8 1.8 1.3 1.9 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.7 3 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.61.1 1.1 1.2 1.6 4 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.2 1.6 1.7 5 1.0 1.1 1.20.9 1.8 2.0 1.7 1.9 6 1.0 1.3 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.6 7 1 Parity 3 3 3 4 5 3 5 11 1 1 1

TABLE 3 Changes of milk yield in CNSL feeding group Number of Milk yield(kg/day) days after Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ-Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- Individ- calving ual 1 ual2 ual 3 ual 4 ual 5 ual 6 ual 7 ual 8 ual 9 ual 10 ual 11 1 1.0 1.0 1.01.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2 1.3 1.1 1.0 1.2 0.9 1.1 1.2 2.5 1.1 1.60.7 3 2.0 1.8 2.5 1.0 1.5 1.1 1.2 2.8 1.3 1.4 2.7 4 2.2 1.7 2.6 1.1 1.61.2 1.4 4.2 1.5 1.6 3.8 5 2.4 1.8 4.1 1.1 1.2 1.8 4.8 1.4 4.4 6 5.2 1.31.9 4.5 1.8 5.6 Parity 5 3 3 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 1

In all the parities, the feeding of CNSL increased the rates of increasein the milk yield compared with control group. The feeding of CNSL wasfound to increase the milk yield after calving.

Example 3 Evaluation of Effect of Preventing Abomasal Displacement

Adult female Holstein cattle were used in this test. The agent ofProduction Example 1 was fed in an amount of 100 g (10 g in terms ofCNSL) per day for 5 days from the date of calving. 16 cows wereallocated to CNSL-fed group, while 15 cows were allocated to controlgroup fed with no CNSL. Although the feed to be fed was modifieddepending on the condition of the cows, the feed was designed so that 7kg of timothy and 2 to 3 kg of a concentrate feed were fed on averageper day roughly.

The onset and cure of abomasal displacement were evaluated based onfindings by a veterinarian. FIG. 2 shows the test results. In CNSL-fedgroup, there were no cows which developed abomasal, displacement, but incontrol group, 6.7% of the cows developed abomasal displacement. Thefeeding of CNSL was found to provide an effect of preventing abomasaldisplacement.

Production Example 2

220 kg of cashew nut shells were obtained from Cashew Trading Co., Ltd.,and the shells were compressed, thereby producing 67 kg of cashew nutshell liquid. 394 g of silicic anhydride (manufactured by Evonik DegussaJapan, Sipernat 22) and 91 g of bentonite were mixed with 455 g of thecashew nut shell liquid, thereby preparing cashew nut shellliquid-containing silica. Then, a tablet of the cashew nut shellliquid-containing silica was prepared by a molding machine.

Example 4 Evaluation of Effect of Treating Abomasal Displacement

Adult female Holstein cattle were used in this test. Three tablets ofProduction Example 2 were fed per day (21.5 g in terms of CNSL) during aperiod from the onset to cure of abomasal displacement. This test wasconducted for seven cases. The onset and cure of abomasal displacementwere diagnosed and evaluated by a veterinarian. FIG. 3 shows the testresults.

Tables 4 to 9 show the findings for the respective cases by theveterinarian. It should be noted that the abdominal distention wasevaluated on a four-point scale: 1: very distended; 2: distended; 3:slightly distended; and 4: normal. The auscultation sound was evaluatedon a four-point scale: 1: metallic sound; 2: splashing sound; 3:gargling sound; and 4: normal sound. The appetite, milk yield, andvitality were evaluated on a five-point scale: 1: very bad; 2: bad; 3:normal; 4: good; and 5: very good. The fecal condition was evaluated ona five-point scale: 1: bloody feces; 2: watery feces; 3: mud-like feces;4: loose feces; and 5: normal feces.

TABLE 4 (Case 1) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal Auscultation MilkVital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield ity conditionRemark Day 1: December 20  3 2 2 2 2 2 Hypophagia, diagnosed asabomasal displacement, medical treatment Day 2: December 21  3 2 3 3 22 Medical treatment Day 3: December 22  3 2 4 4 3 3 Scheduled forsurgery, medical treatment Day 4: December 23 4 4 4 5 5 5 Cured withoutsurgery Recovery of appetite and milk yield Date of calving: December15-onset on Day 5 after calving

TABLE 5 (Cases 2 and 3) Daily observation list CNSL AbdominalAuscultation Milk Vital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetiteyield ity condition Remark Day 1: December 22  2 2 2 3 2 2 Day 2:December 23  2 3 2 3 2 2 Day 3: December 24  4 3 2 3 2 2 Day 4:December 25 4 4 2 3 2 2 Cured without surgery (Recurrence) Day 1:January 5  2 3 2 3 2 2 Hypophagia again, distension with gas Day 2:January 6 4 4 4 3 5 4 Returned to normal state Date of calving: December21-onset on Day 1 after calving

TABLE 6 (Case 4) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal Auscultation MilkVital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield ity conditionRemark Day 1: December 27  3 3 2 2 2 2 Medical treatment on suspicionof abomasal displacement Day 2: December 28  3 3 2 2 2 2 Abomasaldisplacement, distension with gas, medical treatment Day 3: December 294 4 5 5 5 5 Cured without surgery Recovery of appetite and milk yieldDate of calving: December 24-onset on Day 3 after calving

TABLE 7 (Case 5) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal Auscultation MilkVital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield ity conditionRemark Day 1: January 8  4 3 2 3 3 4 Hypophagia, suspected to haveabomasal displacement Day 2: January 9 4 4 5 5 5 5 Cured (Medicaltreatment) Recovery of appetite Date of calving: January 3-onset on Day5 after calving

TABLE 8 (Case 6) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal Auscultation MilkVital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield ity conditionRemark Day 1: December 31  2 3 2 2 2 3 Medical treatment on suspicionof abomasal displacement Day 2: January 1  2 3 2 2 2 3 Medicaltreatment on suspicion of abomasal displacement Day 3: January 2  2 3 22 2 3 Medical treatment on suspicion of abomasal displacement Day 4:January 3  2 3 2 2 2 2 Medical treatment on suspicion of abomasaldisplacement Day 5: January 4 2 1 2 2 2 2 Abdominal surgery (because ofdeteriorating abomasal displacement and distension with gas) Day 14 4 44 5 4 5 Recovery of appetite Date of calving: December 29-onset on Day 2after calving

TABLE 9 (Case 7) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal Auscultation MilkVital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield ity conditionRemark Day 1: January 13  3 3 2 2 2 4 Hypophagia, diagnosed as abomasaldisplacement, medical treatment Day 2: January 14  3 3 2 2 2 3Hypophagia, diagnosed as abomasal displacement, medical treatment Day 3:January 15  1 2 2 2 2 3 Hypophagia, diagnosed as abomasal displacement,medical treatment Day 4: January 16 1 1 2 2 2 2 Abdominal surgery Day 5:January 17 4 4 2 3 4 4 Date of calving: Dec 29-onset on Day 2 aftercalving

In five of seven cases, abomasal displacement was cured. Further,indications of the recovery, such as the improvement of appetite,increase in the milk yield, and amelioration of the fecal condition,were observed on Days 2 to 3, and abomasal displacement was completelycured on Days 2 to 4. The CNSL was found to have an effect of treatingabomasal displacement.

Example 5 Evaluation of Effect of Improving Milk Yield Under Heat Stress

This test was conducted at two ranches in the same dairy cooperativeregion in a period (June 6 to September 21) when heat stress wasapplied. In ranch O, the feed to be fed was designed so as to have aforage/concentrate ratio of 44:56 and so that the dry matter intake was20.1 to 22.8 kg per head. Before feeding of the cashew nut shellliquid-containing pellet, the milk yield and milk components weremeasured. The milk yield was calculated by dividing the amount of thewhole milk gathered at the test ranch by the number of milk cows, andthe milk component levels were analyzed for a sample obtained from thewhole milk. Further, the milk yield was corrected with a milk fatcontent, and the milk yield in terms of a milk fat content of 3.5% wasdefined as a 3.5 FCM value. A calculation equation is shown below.

3.5FCM=0.432×Actual milk yield+16.23×(Actual milk yield×Actual milk fatpercentage)

The heat stress is generally evaluated by a temperature-humidity index(THI), and in the case of cattle, the index is defined as follows: 72 orless: comfortable, 73 to 80: slightly hot, 80 to 90: hot, 90 to 98:severely hot, and 98 or more: dangerous. If the THI value exceeds 73,the cattle feel stressed, resulting in decrease of the milk yield andmilk quality. The milk yield may decrease by 10 to 20%. In this test,the heat stress was evaluated based on the THI value. The calculationequation is shown below. It should be noted that T represents atemperature (° C.), and H represents a relative humidity (%).

THI=0.8T+0.01H(T−14.3)+46.3

This test was conducted in a switchback system. More specifically, thefeeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet described inProduction Example 1 was started in an amount of 50 g per day (5 g perday in terms of cashew nut shell liquid) per head. In test (1), thefeeding was conducted for 20 days (feeding period) and stopped for 21days (non-feeding period). In test (2), feeding for 21 days andnon-feeding for 21 days were repeated again. The measurement of the milkyield and analysis of the milk quality were conducted before the feedingand at the final day of the respective test periods.

In ranch M, the feed to be fed was designed so as to have aforage/concentrate ratio of 45:55 and so that the dry matter intake was22.0 to 22.46 kg per day. Under the same test conditions as those inranch O, the feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pelletand measurement of the milk yield and milk components were conducted.Tables 10 and 11 and FIG. 4 show the results.

It should be noted that milk fat content, solids-not-fat content, andmilk protein content were measured in accordance with a measurementmethod described in:

“Ministerial Ordinance Concerning Compositional Standards, etc. for Milkand Milk Products”

(MHW Ordinance No. 52 dated Dec. 27, 1951)Final revision: MHLW Ordinance No. 132 dated Oct. 30, 2007)

Appendix

2. Compositional standards for milk etc., and standards of production,cooking, and preservation methods(7) Test method for compositional standards for milk etc.

TABLE 10 Effect of feeding of CNSL on milk yield and milk quality(ranches M and O) Test (1) Test (2) Before Feeding Non-feeding FeedingNon-feeding feeding period period period period Average THI 75.16 81.4281.35 82.72 80.85 Ranch M Milk yield (L/head) 29.60 29.20 28.30 28.6028.10 3.5 FCM (L/head) 31.91 30.41 29.08 29.67 29.99 Milk fat content(%) 3.98 3.76 3.67 3.73 3.92 Solids-not-fat content (%) 8.80 8.61 8.538.44 8.53 Milk protein content (%) 3.25 3.15 3.09 3.00 3.10 Ranch O Milkyield (L/head) 29.80 28.90 28.30 29.30 29.50 3.5 FCM (L/head) 31.9830.12 29.08 29.92 30.27 Milk fat content (%) 3.95 3.76 3.67 3.63 3.66Solids-not-fat content (%) 8.81 8.69 8.73 8.66 8.64 Milk protein content(%) 3.24 3.16 3.18 3.15 3.14 Average Milk yield (L/head) 27.90 25.5024.95 24.40 25.20 in region 3.5 FCM (L/head) 28.72 26.41 25.76 25.3726.35 Milk fat content (%) 3.68 3.72 3.70 3.75 3.78 Solids-not-fatcontent (%) 8.72 8.52 8.56 8.54 8.55 Milk protein content (%) 3.20 3.083.11 3.11 3.14

TABLE 11 Variation (%) of 3.5 FCM before and after feeding (ranches Mand O) Test (1) Test (2) Before Feeding Non-feeding Feeding Non-feedingfeeding period period period period Average THI 75.16 81.42 81.35 82.7280.85 Ranch M 0.00 −4.69 −8.85 −7.02 −6.00 Ranch O 0.00 −5.81 −9.06−6.44 −5.35 Average in 0.00 −8.03 −10.29 −11.65 −8.25 region

The feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet was foundto provide an effect of reducing decrease of the milk yield even underheat stress in both ranches. In addition, a comparison between thenon-feeding period in test (1) and the feeding period in test (2), whichwere under similar heat stress conditions, showed that increased milkyield and stable milk quality were achieved in the ranches where thecashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet was fed although the milkyield of the average in the region was lowered.

Example 6 Evaluation of Effect of Improving Milk Yield Under Heat Stress

This test was conducted at ranch K in the same dairy cooperative regionas in Example 5 from July 21 to September 27. In ranch K, the feed to befed was designed so as to have a forage/concentrate ratio of 43:57 andso that the dry matter intake was 22.2 to 23.64 kg per day. Beforefeeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet, the milk yieldand milk components were measured. The milk yield was calculated bydividing the amount of the whole milk gathered at the test ranch by thenumber of milk cows, and the milk component levels were analyzed for asample obtained from the whole milk. 3.5 FCM and THI values werecalculated in the same method as in Example 5.

This test was conducted by a switchback system. In test (1), the cashewnut shell liquid-containing pellet described in Production Example 1 wasfed in an amount of 100 g per day (10 g per day in terms of cashew nutshell liquid) per head. The feeding was conducted for 28 days andstopped for 6 days. In test (2), the cashew nut shell liquid-containingpellet was fed in an amount of 50 g per day (5 g per day in terms ofcashew nut shell liquid) per head, and the test was completed after thepellet was fed for 19 days. The measurement of the milk yield andanalysis of the milk quality were conducted before the feeding and atthe final day of the respective test periods. Tables 12 and 13 and FIG.5 show the results.

It should be noted that the milk fat content, solids-not-fat content,and milk protein content were measured in accordance with a measurementmethod described in:

“Ministerial Ordinance Concerning Compositional Standards, etc. for Milkand Milk Products”

(MHW Ordinance No. 52 dated Dec. 27, 1951)Final revision: MHLW Ordinance No. 132 dated Oct. 30, 2007)

Appendix

2. Compositional standards for milk etc., and standards of production,cooking, and preservation methods(7) Test method for compositional standards for milk etc.

TABLE 12 Effect of feeding of CNSL on milk yield and milk quality (ranchK) Test (1) Non- Test (2) Before (100 g; feeding (50 g; feeding 28 days)period 19 days) Average THI 80.14 83.02 79.70 79.55 Ranch K Milk yield(L/ 31.00 34.10 31.70 32.20 head) 3.5 FCM (L/ 31.61 34.77 31.96 32.78head) Milk fat 3.62 3.62 3.55 3.61 content (%) Solids-not-fat 8.65 8.608.63 8.58 content (%) Milk protein 3.09 3.07 3.09 3.06 content (%)Average Milk yield (L/ 25.50 24.40 25.20 25.20 in region head) 3.5 FCM(L/ 26.00 25.39 26.26 26.31 head) Milk fat 3.62 3.75 3.76 3.77 content(%) Solids-not-fat 8.57 8.54 8.55 8.55 content (%) Milk protein 3.093.10 3.14 3.14 content (%)

TABLE 13 Variation (%) of 3.5 FCM before and after feeding (%) (ranch K)Before Test (1) (100 Non-feeding Test (2) (50 feeding g; 28 days) periodg; 19 days) Average THI 75.16 81.42 81.35 82.72 Ranch K 0.00 10.00 1.123.71 Average in 0.00 −2.33 1.03 1.18 region

In ranch K, the feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pelletwas found to provide an effect of reducing decrease of the milk yieldeven under heat stress. In particular, in test (1), although the heatstress rapidly increased to significantly lower the average milk yieldin the region, a significant increase in the milk yield and stable milkquality were achieved in ranch K. In test (2), the milk yield in ranch Kwas found to significantly increase compared with the average milk yieldin the region.

Example 7 Evaluation of Effect of Improving Milk Quality

This test was conducted in a ranch where the average number of milk cowswas 50 per day, and adult female Holstein cattle were used in this test.The feed was fed by separate feeding, and the forage/concentrate ratiowas finely adjusted depending on the condition in the range of 0.45 to0.60. The feed was designed so that the dry matter intake was 23 to 25kg per day.

Before the feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet, themilk yield and milk components were measured. The milk yield wascalculated by dividing the amount of the whole milk gathered at the testranch by the number of milk cows, and the milk component levels wereanalyzed for a sample obtained from the whole milk. The milk yield andmilk quality for 11 days before the feeding of the cashew nut shellliquid-containing pellet were calculated as control values. After that,the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet described in ProductionExample 1 was fed for 21 days in an amount of 50 g per day (5 g per dayin terms of cashew nut shell liquid) per head, and changes in the milkyield and milk quality were observed.

The milk fat content, solids-not-fat content, and milk protein contentwere measured in accordance with a measurement method described in:

“Ministerial Ordinance Concerning Compositional Standards, etc. for Milkand Milk Products”

(MHW Ordinance No. 52 dated Dec. 27, 1951)Final revision: MHLW Ordinance No. 132 dated Oct. 30, 2007)

Appendix

2. Compositional standards for milk etc., and standards of production,cooking, and preservation methods(7) Test method for compositional standards for milk etc.Table 14 shows the test results.

TABLE 14 Effect of feeding of CNSL on milk yield and milk quality BeforeFeeding feeding period Variation Average THI 82.82 81.99 −0.83 Milkyield (L/head) 30.20 29.60 −0.60 3.5 FCM (L/head) 30.94 30.47 −0.47 Milkfat content (%) 3.65 3.68 0.03 Solids-not-fat content (%) 8.27 8.39 0.12Milk protein content (%) 2.88 3.15 0.27 Milk urea nitrogen (mg/dL) 13.1011.50 −1.60

In the case where the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet was fed,the milk yield was not significantly lowered even under heat stress, andthe milk quality was more improved in all the items. In particular, thesolids-not-fat content and milk protein content were significantlyimproved, while the milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was reduced. This isprobably because, as mentioned above, the milk protein content wasincreased through efficient conversion of nitrogen into a milk proteinin a body, resulting in reduction of MUN which is free nitrogen.

In general, an excessive amount of MUN is considered to cause not onlydecrease of milk quality such as a milk protein and lactose but alsodecrease of the reproductive performance such as prolongation innon-pregnant period and increase of the number of artificialinseminations. Therefore, in milk cows which are industrial animals, theimprovement of the milk yield and milk quality and prevention ofdecrease of the reproductivity are very important, and the cashew nutshell liquid-containing pellet which can exert its effect on both theimprovement and prevention even under heat stress is considered to beindustrially significant.

Production Example 3

220 kg of cashew nut shells were obtained from Cashew Trading Co., Ltd.,and the shells were compressed, thereby producing 67 kg of cashew nutshell liquid. In Techno Paudalton Co., Ltd., Cellulose, silicicanhydride, maltose, citric anhydride, and sodium dihydrogenphosphatewere mixed with the cashew nut shell liquid, thereby preparing a cashewnut shell liquid-containing tablet. Further, in order to improve theusability, the tablet was covered with oblate (starch).

Example 8 Evaluation of Effect of Treating Abomasal Displacement

Adult female Holstein cattle were used in this test. Sixteen tablets ofProduction Example 3 were fed per day (10 g in terms of CNSL) during aperiod from the onset to cure of abomasal displacement. This test wasconducted for four cases. Tables 15 to 18 and FIG. 6 show the results.The onset and cure of abomasal displacement were evaluated based ondiagnosed and evaluated by a veterinarian.

Tables 15 to 18 show the findings for the respective cases by theveterinarian. It should be noted that the abdominal distention wasevaluated on a four-point scale: 1: very distended; 2: distended; 3:slightly distended; and 4: normal. The auscultation sound was evaluatedon a four-point scale: 1: metallic sound; 2: splashing sound; 3:gargling sound; and 4: normal sound. The appetite, milk yield, andvitality were evaluated on a five-point scale: 1: very bad; 2: bad; 3:normal; 4: good; and 5: very good. The fecal condition was evaluated ona five-point scale: 1: bloody feces; 2: watery feces; 3: mud-like feces;4: loose feces; and 5: normal feces.

TABLE 15 (Case 1) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal AuscultationMilk Vital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield itycondition Remark Day 1: August 14  2 1 1 2 2 5 Took only hay, pingsound on the right side Day 2: August 15  2 1 1 2 2 5 Hypophagia, rightping sound or tympanic resonance Day 3: August 16  2 1 3 2 2 5 Improvedappetite, right ping sound Day 4: August 17 4 4 4 3 3 5 Recovery ofappetite, recovery of abdominal distension with gas Day 5: August 18 4 44 4 4 5 Recovery of appetite Date of calving: August 11-onset on Day 4after calving

TABLE 16 (Case 2) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal AuscultationMilk Vital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield itycondition Remark Day 1: August 28  2 1 3 3 2 5 Metallic sound on theright side Day 2: August 29  4 4 4 2 4 5 Recovery of abdominaldistension with gas, appetite, and vitality Day 3: August 30  4 4 4 2 45 Day 4: August 31 4 4 4 3 4 5 Returned to normal state Date of calving:August 26-onset on Day 3 after calving

TABLE 17 (Case 3) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal AuscultationMilk Vital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield itycondition Remark Day 1: September 9  2 1 1 2 2 2 Took only hay,tympanic resonance on the right side Day 2: September 10  2 1 1 3 2 5Metallic sound on the right side Day 3: September 11  4 4 1 3 3 5 Tookonly hay, recovery of abdominal distension with gas Day 4: September 124 4 4 3 4 5 Recovery of appetite, returned to normal state Date ofcalving: September 6-onset on Day 4 after calving

TABLE 18 (Case 4) Daily observation list CNSL Abdominal AuscultationMilk Vital- Fecal Date feeding distention sound Appetite yield itycondition Remark Day 1: September 5  2 1 2 2 2 3 Poor appetite,metallic sound on the left side Day 2: September 6  2 1 1 2 2 3Metallic sound on the right side, took only hay Day 3: September 7  2 11 1 2 3 Metallic sound on the right side, took only hay Date of calving:August 23-onset on Day 13 after calving twin calving, retention ofplacenta, persistent diarrhea before feeding

In three of four cases, abomasal displacement was cured. Further,indications of the recovery, such as the improvement of appetite,increase in the milk yield, and amelioration of the fecal condition,were observed on Days 2 to 3, and abomasal displacement was completelycured at Days 2 to 4. From the results, the CNSL was found to have aneffect of treating abomasal displacement. Further, the effect oftreating abomasal displacement was obtained by feeding a smaller amountof CNSL than that in Example 4.

In this test, the cashew nut shell liquid-containing tablet was fedafter the onset of abomasal displacement, and the effect of the tabletwas examined. Generally, in many cases, perinatal diseases develop aftercalving due to the feeding system particularly in the dry period.However, the perinatal disease may be controlled comprehensively byfeeding the tablet in the dry period because preventive feeding of thetablet before the onset of the perinatal diseases was effective inExample 3.

Example 9 Evaluation of Effect of Improving Reproductivity

Adult female Holstein cattle were used in this test. Individuals whichhad calved were divided at random into test group and control group, andthe agent of Production Example 1 was fed to the individuals in testgroup for 5 days from the date of calving in an amount of 100 g (10 g interms of CNSL) per day. It should be noted that primiparous cows werenot included in the data for statistics because the cows were managed ina different way before and after calving. 9 cows (two calvings: 2 cows,three calvings: 4 cows, four calvings: 1 cow, five calvings: 1 cow, sixcalvings: 1 cow) were allocated to test group (fed with CNSL), and 5cows (three calvings: 5 cows) were allocated to control group (fed withno CNSL). Although the feed to be fed was modified depending on thecondition of the cows, the feed was designed so that 7 kg of timothy and2 to 3 kg of a concentrate feed were fed on average per day.

The reproductivity was evaluated based on general indices, morespecifically, the number of artificial insemination, the days ofnon-pregnant, actual days of non-pregnant, days to first service, apregnancy rate at first service, a pregnancy rate, and an detection rateof estrus. As for days of non-pregnant, the percentages of individualswith non-pregnant days of 90 days or less (evaluated as good) andindividuals with non-pregnant days of 120 days or more (evaluated as notgood) were also calculated. Table 19 shows the test results.

TABLE 19 Effect of feeding of CNSL on reproductivity CNSL group Controlgroup Variation n 9 5 — Number of insemination 2.0 2.6 −0.6 (times) Daysof non-pregnant 111 137 −26.0 90 days or less (%) 33.3 20.0 13.3 120days or more (%) 33.3 60.0 −26.7 Days of first insemination 78.9 78.70.2 Pregnancy rate at first 33.3 16.7 16.6 service (%) Pregnancy rate(%) 50.0 38.5 11.5 Actual days of 32.1 58.3 −26.2 non-pregnant Detectionrate of estrus 79.10 68.85 10.2 (%) Number of insemination = times ofartificial insemination Days of non-pregnant = last conception day −last calving day Days of first insemination = first insemination day −last calving day Pregnancy rate at first service = rate of conceptionachieved by first insemination Pregnancy rate = number of individualswith conception (group total)/total times of artificial insemination ×100 Actual days of non-pregnant = days from first to last inseminationFirst insemination day = first artificial insemination day after calvingLast insemination day = latest day of artificial insemination Detectionrate of estrus (whole group) = average number of insemination/((averageactual days of non-pregnant/21) + 1) × 100

The feeding of the cashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet was foundto provide better results in almost all the items compared with controlgroup. In particular, significant effects of reducing the number ofinsemination, decreasing days of non-pregnant, improving the pregnancyrate, and decreasing actual days of non-pregnant were confirmed.Further, the feeding of CNSL was able to achieve the conception rate andthe estrus detection rate at levels exceeding 50 to 60% and 70% or moreof target levels, respectively. The results show that the feeding of thecashew nut shell liquid-containing pellet was found to significantlyimprove the reproductivity in each individual and to furthersignificantly improve the reproductivity in the detection rate of estrusand pregnancy rate in each group.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the milkyield and milk quality of a ruminant and to prevent or treat a perinataldisease, and hence the present invention is useful in livestock field.Further, the present invention can improve the reproductive performanceto efficiently produce offspring and to reduce the number of artificialinseminations, resulting in significant increases of the productivityand profitability. Therefore, the present invention has very highindustrial availability.

1. An agent for improving milk yield, milk quality, or both milk yieldand milk quality of a ruminant, the agent comprising: at least one ofcashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardicacid, cardanol, and cardol.
 2. The agent according to claim 1, whereinthe agent is administered to a ruminant which is fed with a feed havinga ratio by weight of a forage to a total weight of the forage and aconcentrate feed of from 0.3 to 1.0.
 3. A feed for improving milk yield,milk quality, or both milk yield and milk quality of a ruminant, thefeed comprising: at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.
 4. Thefeed according to claim 3, wherein the feed has a ratio by weight of aforage to a total weight of the forage and a concentrate feed of from0.3 to 1.0.
 5. A method of improving milk yield, milk quality, or bothmilk yield and milk quality of a ruminant, the method comprising:administering at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treatedcashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol to theruminant.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the ruminant israised with a feed having a ratio by weight of a forage to a totalweight of the forage and a concentrate feed of from 0.3 to 1.0.
 7. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein at least one of cashew nut shellliquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol,and cardol is administered in an amount of from 0.01 to 500 g per headper day.
 8. A method for producing an agent for improving milk yield,milk quality, or both milk yield and milk quality of a ruminant, themethod comprising: producing the agent with at least one of cashew nutshell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and cardol.
 9. A method for producing a feed for improvingmilk yield, milk quality, or both milk yield and milk quality of aruminant, the method comprising: producing the feed with at least one ofcashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardicacid, cardanol, and cardol.
 10. An agent for preventing or treating aperinatal disease of a ruminant, the agent comprising: at least one ofcashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardicacid, cardanol, and cardol.
 11. A feed for preventing or treating aperinatal disease of a ruminant, the feed comprising: at least one ofcashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardicacid, cardanol, and cardol.
 12. A method of preventing or treating aperinatal disease of a ruminant, the method comprising: administering atleast one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol to the ruminant.
 13. Amethod for producing an agent for preventing or treating a perinataldisease of a ruminant, the method comprising: producing the agent withat least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.
 14. A method for producinga feed for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of a ruminant, themethod comprising: producing the feed with at least one of cashew nutshell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid,cardanol, and cardol.
 15. An agent for improving reproductivity of aruminant, the agent comprising: at least one of cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, andcardol.
 16. A feed for improving reproductivity of a ruminant, the feedcomprising: at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashewnut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.
 17. A method ofimproving reproductivity of a ruminant, the method comprising: feedingat least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shellliquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol to the ruminant.
 18. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein at least one of cashew nut shellliquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol,and cardol is fed in an amount of from 0.01 to 500 g per head per day.19. A method for producing an agent for improving reproductivity of aruminant, the method comprising: producing the agent with at least oneof cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid,anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol.
 20. A method for producing a feedfor improving reproductivity of a ruminant, the method comprising:producing the feed with at least one of cashew nut shell liquid,heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, andcardol.